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Prison Break

Prison Break

Just have a little faith.

2005–2017Ended5 seasons90 episodes~44 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

Due to a political conspiracy, an innocent man is sent to death row and his only hope is his brother, who makes it his mission to deliberately get himself sent to the same prison in order to break the both of them out, from the inside out.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Prison Break?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Prison Break streaming on Hulu and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Rent / Buy

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Highlights

What stands out about Prison Break?

Prison Break earns 7 badges, led by Modern classic and Top 5% of shows.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Cast

Reception

Is Prison Break worth watching?

Prison Break's Midcredits score is the 96th percentile of all shows, from 690K ratings across 2 sources. 91% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

96th percentile

Better received than 96% of shows

95th percentile among Action94th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)93rd
Approval (how many liked it)95th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

82 /100

93rd percentile of all shows

94th percentile among Action91st percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

91% liked it

95th percentile of all shows

93rd percentile among Action94th percentile among 2000s
91% rated it 7–109% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

683K ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Action99th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 8% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree that the show's first two seasons are gripping and well-crafted, while later seasons lose coherence and believability.

Fans praised

  • heart-pounding suspense and relentless twists
  • brilliant lead performances from Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell
  • ingenious, intricate plotting in the early seasons

Detractors panned

  • preposterous plot logic and cheap twists in later seasons
  • seasons 3-5 feel repetitive and a rehash of the first
  • quality nosedives so hard it becomes embarrassing to watch

What stands out

ActingDivisive78

Miller and Purcell praised as captivating leads; later seasons called 'bad acting from all' by detractors

TensionDivisive72

high-stakes dread and suspense praised in early seasons, lost later

PacingDivisive65

relentless momentum in early seasons; later seasons criticized for dragging

CharactersDivisive65

charismatic brothers and a memorable supporting cast, though some feel characters stagnate

OriginalityDivisive60

fresh high-concept premise in season 1, but seasons 3-5 seen as formulaic retreads

Plot and storyDivisive55

early seasons praised for intricate escape plans and twists; later seasons called implausible and rehashed

EndingDivisive40

finales polarizing; detractors find them silly, some fans satisfied with sentiment

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 3 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 5 points apart
  • Critics vs users 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 7 points apart

Episodes

5 seasons

Resurrection · 2017 · 9 episodes · 7.8 average across 9 rated episodes

  • S5E1

    Ogygia

    Apr 4, 201745 minTMDB rating 7.6
  • S5E2

    Kaniel Outis

    Apr 11, 201745 minTMDB rating 7.5
  • S5E3

    The Liar

    Apr 18, 201745 minTMDB rating 7.7
  • S5E4

    The Prisoner's Dilemma

    Apr 25, 201745 minTMDB rating 8.1
  • S5E5

    Contingency

    May 2, 201745 minTMDB rating 7.7
  • S5E6

    Phaecia

    May 9, 201745 minTMDB rating 7.6

Watch experience

What is Prison Break like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — a relentless watch that leaves you wrung out and released.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseThrilling
Heaviest: early
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Adventurous · 15% of shows
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedNew arc each season
ToneThe show plays its high-stakes conspiracy and prison drama completely straight, with a serious and suspenseful tone.
The rideThe show maintains high suspense, especially in the first season's prison break, with later seasons introducing more conspiracy but slightly less tension.
StructureThe story unfolds in a linear, act-based structure across seasons, with each season forming a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Episode formatNearly every episode continues the ongoing escape and conspiracy arc; the show is famously one continuous story with few standalone episodes — cliffhangers drive the serial forward.
Season formatEach season follows a new heist or evasion arc (the original escape, the manhunt, Sona, the Company's fall, the final heist, Yemen escape) with the same core cast chasing new objectives.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Cathartic · 3% of showsThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you emotionally spent but satisfied by the resolution of the conspiracy and the brothers' journey.
How it ends · evidence
Happy endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestRescue
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% (this title) · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Rescue: Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).

6% of shows fit this archetype

with Overcoming the monster underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series follows Michael Scofield's quest to rescue his brother from prison and later expose the conspiracy that framed him.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsJustice · 14% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series is driven by Michael's unwavering loyalty to his brother Lincoln, and their quest to expose a corrupt system.
StanceThe show interrogates the justice system, corporate corruption, and what one man will sacrifice for family — it neither fully celebrates the heroes (who are criminals) nor condemns them, keeping moral ambiguity central.

The world

Contemporary
Foreground music · original score · Ramin Djawadi
SettingA high-security prison, later expanded to global conspiracy across multiple institutions and borders
MusicDjawadi's signature 'Prison Break Theme' — a hammering, percussive motif that immediately signals tension and determination.

Content guide

Is Prison Break okay for kids?

TV-14

Prison Break is rated TV-14. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (71/100), sexual content at mild (34/100), language at moderate (37/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (43/100) and frightening material at intense (66/100). Overall it is heavier than 70% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 28 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada14+
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • Ireland16
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • Austria16
  • Belgium16
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK16
  • Hungary12
  • IndiaU
  • LU16
  • MexicoB-15
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway18
  • PhilippinesPG
  • Poland16
  • PortugalNR
  • RO15
  • Russia16+
  • SingaporeNC16
  • Spain16
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 55% of all showsHeavier than 70% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Intense
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 82%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 40%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 45%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 69%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 81%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what TV-14 shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Prison Break have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Prison Break?

Cast

Dominic Purcell
as Lincoln 'Linc' Burrows
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Wentworth Miller
as Michael Scofield
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - DramaTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Amaury Nolasco
as Fernando Sucre
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Robert Knepper
as Theodore 'T-Bag' Bagwell
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Sarah Wayne Callies
as Sara Tancredi
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Wade Williams
as Brad Bellick
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
William Fichtner
as Alexander Mahone
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Paul Adelstein
as Paul Kellerman
Rockmond Dunbar
as Benjamin Miles 'C-Note' Franklin
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe
as Gretchen Morgan
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.

More like this

What are shows like Prison Break?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Prison Break include Mayor of Kingstown (2021), Mayans M.C. (2018) and Animal Kingdom (2016).

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What other shows share a tag with Prison Break?

20 other shows share the rarest tag below, premise: prison escape. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.